Scope and Content Note

Series 1 includes materials relating to the Ogburns' research and
writing to prove that "William Shakespeare" was a pseudonym of the 17th Earl of
Oxford, Edward de Vere. Items include correspondence from editors, publishers,
supporters and detractors of the Oxford theory, as well as correspondence from
the Ogburns as they attempted to persuade numerous persons, including Sir
Lawrence Olivier, John Houseman, and Katherine Hepburne, of the validity of
their case. The series also contains clippings regarding the authorship
question, typescripts of the Ogburns' works, reviews of their studies, and
collected printed material. The series is divided into six subseries, organized
around materials relating to the four major works written by the Ogburns on the
identity of William Shakespeare,
The Renaissance Man of England (Charlton, Sr. and
Dorothy Ogburn, 1947),
This Star of England (Charlton, Sr. and Dorothy
Ogburn, 1952),
The Mysterious William Shakespeare (Charlton Ogburn,
Jr., 1984), and an unpublished manuscript by Dorothy Ogburn, "Elizabeth and
Shakespeare: England's Power and Glory," general correspondence regarding the
authorship question, and miscellaneous items.

Arrangement Note

Arranged into six subseries: (1.1)
The Renaissance Man of England, (1.2)
This Star of England, (1.3)
The Mysterious William Shakespeare, (1.4) "Elizabeth
and Shakespeare: England's Power and Glory," (1.5) General correspondence, and
(1.6) Miscellaneous items re: William Shakespeare.